Donghae City to Relocate and Upgrade Aging Iwon Water Purification Plant... Ensuring Stable Tap Water Supply

Donghae City Launches Full-Scale Modernization of Local Water Supply System
Relocation and Upgrade of Iwon Water Purification Plant
Transition to Integrated Operation at Saeun Water Purification Plant

Donghae City in Gangwon Province announced that it will begin a full-scale push for the modernization of its local water supply system by relocating and upgrading the more than 50-year-old Iwon Water Purification Plant to the Saeun Water Purification Plant, thereby transitioning to an integrated operation and management system (renovation of aging purification plants).

The Donghae City Water and Sewage Office is promoting the separation of sewage and stormwater systems and the maintenance of aging sewer pipelines to improve the living environment of its citizens. Provided by Donghae City

The Iwon Water Purification Plant has long faced significant difficulties in operation and maintenance due to aging facilities. Since 2008, technical assessments have consistently raised the need to upgrade the plant. In particular, in 2022, the Korea Water and Wastewater Works Association recommended the relocation and improvement of the Iwon Water Purification Plant (integrated operation at Saeun Water Purification Plant). In response, Donghae City applied to the Ministry of Environment in 2023 to designate this as a new project. In December 2023, the Ministry of Economy and Finance selected it as a project exempt from preliminary feasibility study requirements. The city is currently in the final stages of detailed design and awaiting approval from the Ministry of Environment.

The total project budget is expected to be 75.6 billion won (50% from the national government and 50% from local government). The main components of the project include expanding the capacity of the Saeun Water Purification Plant (from 40,000 to 60,000 tons per day), constructing new sedimentation tanks, purified water reservoirs, and transmission and distribution pipelines. The city aims to begin construction of the Saeun system’s integrated transmission and distribution pipelines (D400~900, 11.3 km) by the end of this year, as soon as approval is received from the Ministry of Environment. Once all detailed designs are completed in the first half of next year, the main construction, including facility expansion at the Saeun Water Purification Plant, is expected to continue in earnest through 2028.

Hong Seongpyo, head of the Donghae City Water and Sewage Office, stated, "With the implementation of the local water supply modernization project (renovation of aging purification plants), once this project is completed, we will be able to secure a stable water source in preparation for future droughts and increased water demand due to urban development, as well as provide citizens with higher-quality, cleaner tap water."

This content was produced with the assistance of AI translation services.